Tour the 2017 Kips Bay Show House

Each spring, instead of competing amongst themselves for a coveted project, the crème de la crème of the New York design world come together under one exceptionally chic roof for the benefit of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. In its 45 years, the Kips Bay show house has become a must-see for the design community, a launching pad for young talent, and an expressive canvas for more seasoned ones. Free of the constraints of working with a client, participants face a slew of new challenges, including unorthodox floor plans, chaotic move-in, and, most notably, a serious time crunch: This year's designers had just a month to completely revamp their spaces. Despite all these hurdles, this year's group delivered a dazzling four stories of chic. Click through to be inspired, and, if you can, be sure to visit the show house, which opens officially on Tuesday, May 2. Tickets available at kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org

Parlor: Richard Mishaan

Mishaan's ornately patterned wall is a lush backdrop for his Turkish-inspired room. The paper was custom made by London-based Iksel, and offsets the room's large Turkish rug. "This room is all about collecting," the designer says. "The home, to me, is a modern take on Audubon."

Dining Room: Ken Fulk

Ken Fulk brought his trademark theatricality to the showhouse, installing custom de Gournay wallpaper, green lacquer trim, and a cloud-filled ceiling, all complemented, of course, by bursting florals from his own Ken Fulk's Flower Factory. The room was created for the fictitious socialite Madame F, an eccentric who housed zoo animals in her townhouse and hosted lavish parties.

Bedroom: Billy Cotton Studio

Cotton's bedroom, complete with Fromental wallpaper and a four-poster bed, recalls some of the aura of the old New York elite. “This is the final home of a woman who has seen much tragedy," says Cotton of his imagined client. "The last stage of life has seen her packed away into this top floor SRO, once a grand townhouse before its conversion after the war.”

Sitting room: Neal Beckstedt Studio

"I wanted a little global enclave," says Beckstedt of his top-floor space. The room is the midcentury modern enthusiast's dream, complete with furnishings by Fritz Hansen and Pierre Jeanneret. Becksteadt took a risk and tore out the ceiling to reveal the original beams. "I figured there was a pretty good chance they were up there," he says. "And I was right."

Sitting room: Nick Olsen

Richly layered textures in Olsen's room ensure no corner of the room goes to waste. The designer enlisted David Haag to create the whimsical curtains of what he describes as "an American ex-pat's room in 1930s Paris."

Living room: Robert A.M. Stern

Stern's living room, complete with a grand piano, acts as the house's artistic salon. Many pieces, including the Warhol fragments on the citrus-colored Farrow & Ball wall, are from the architect's own collection.

Office: Robert Stilin

An array of art and fine furnishings gives Stilin's space the air of a collector's pied-à-terre."This is the home of a couple who are well-traveled, educated, and also want to be comfortable," he explains.

Stairwell: Savage Interior Design

Hall: Scarpidis Design

Yorgos Scarpidis transformed an especially tricky second-floor hallway into a chic, monochromatic space that makes the most of its small size. "The space is very architectural, so we didn't want to force it to be something it isn't," he says.

Landing: Timothy Brown Studio

Salon: Lichten Craig

Kevin Lichten and Joan Craig made the most of their windowless space by creating a dark, moody salon rich in texture, with walls swathed in Dedar's Lux Rigato fabric. "Our room was completely unfinished when we started," says Joan Craig. " So we had to think of what mood we could create in a windowless room. We went with a dark, smoky, atmospheric basement bar." Or, as partner Kevin Lichten puts it, "a speakeasy!"

Bedroom: Dineen Architecture + Design

Sitting room: Kate Singer Home

With a timeless palette of blue and white, Kate Singer gave the downstairs sitting room a fresh feel to match the adjacent garden. "Upstairs is very grand," Singer says. "So I wanted to keep it casual down here."

Kitchen: Bakes & Kropp

Garden: Janice Parker

The backyard's traditional Chinese garden is a nod to the home's former life: It was once the headquarters of the China Institute in America. Landscape architect Janice Parker drew out this heritage with bamboo and an eye-catching arch.

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